Psychoneuroimmunology: searching for the main deteriorating psychobehavioral factor

Psychoneuroimmunology has become an independent science with a broad experimental basis. However, its theoretical basis is still very vague and ambiguous. There are many contradictions in the experimental data that have not been integrated into a united conception, and some accepted paradigms that remain doubtful. The present critical review suggests a conceptual approach to the problem based on the proposition of two opposite types of behavior (search activity and renunciation of search) with attempts to integrate experimental results by avoiding contradiction. The analysis of the literary data confirms that every behavior that includes search activity prevents psychoimmunological disorders, whereas renunciation of search displays a general predisposition to such disorders. Such an approach makes possible new solutions of paradoxes and broadens the possible interpretations of the alteration of immune functions in depression, anxiety, and stressful events.